Fastening arrangement for decorative wheel rings

ABSTRACT

A plurality of axial clip-receiving recesses are provided on an axial flange of a decorative wheel ring. A clip for fastening the ring to a vehicle wheel is axially interlocked in each recess.

United States Patent [191 Kretschmer 1 Nov. 13, 1973 [541 FASTENINGARRANGEMENT FOR 2,174,087 9/1939 Horn 301/31 c1) DECOR WHEEL RINGS3,043,632 7/1962 Wagner....

3,060,535 10/1962 Munse 24/73 B [76] Inventor: Paul Kretschmer, 8752I-Iohenstr.

' G ern1any h FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3 Great Britain P 9 [2]]Appl' 268,668 Primary ExaminerRicharcl J. Johnson Att0rneyJ. KingHarness et a1. [52] US. Cl. 301/37 P [51] Illl. Cl B601) 7/06 7 ABSTRACT[58] Field of Search 24/73 R, 73 B, 73 SC,

2 73 37 p 7 CD 7 R 108 R A plurality of axial cllp-receivmg recesses arepro- 1 vided on an axial flange of a decorative wheel ring. A 5References Cited clip for fastening the ring to a vehicle wheel isaxially UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1937 Horn .l 301/37 CD interlocked ineach recess.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures FASTENING v ARRANGEMENT FOR DECORATIVE WHEELRINGS This invention relates to a fastening arrangement for securing adecorative wheel ring on a vehicle wheel.

Heretofore, in one type of fastening arrangement, fastening clips havebeen inserted within axial recesses on an axial flange of the decorativering.

An object of the present invention is to improve this type of fasteningarrangement by making it easier to manufacture while at the same timefacilitating installation on a vehicle wheel. Another object is toprovide a simpler clip, a simpler assembly and an improved retention ofthe clip on the decorative wheel ring. A further object is to provide afastening arrangement wherein the decorative ring can be readily appliedto the vehicle wheel and when once applied, is securely retained on thewheel.

According to the disclosure, paired radial straps are provided atintervals along an annular axial flange of the decorative wheel ring,with each pair of straps joined by a bridge spaced radially of theannular flange and a cross-piece at the axially outer end of each pairof straps spaced from the bridge. A fastening clip is held in placebetween the straps, the bridge, and the cross-piece. A bead on theclipinterlocks the clip between the cross-piece and the bridge and anouter end region of the clip adjacent the bead resiliently bears againstthe axial flange to urge a central region of the clip against thebridge. The clip protrude s through the open axially inner end of therecess and terminates in a spring leg directed generally radiallyoutwardly for biting engagement with an axial wheel flange when the ringis applied to the wheel. The spring leg is connected by means of acurved bend to the central region of the clip to provide softer springaction during flexing.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a decorative ring embodyingthe fastening arrangement of the invention I FIG. 2' is a verticalsectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. '1.

In the drawings, a plastic decorative ring 1 is provided with an axialflange la. (It will be appreciated that ring 1 may either partially orfully cover the vehicle wheel to which it is applied and may be eithercircular or annular in shape.) A plurality of clip receiving recesses 4are provided on the radially outer surface of flange 1a at intervalsaround ring 1. Each recess 4 is defined by a pair of circumferentiallyspaced straps, or side walls, 2 which project radially and axially offlange la. The axially outer end of each recess 4 is defined'by across-piece, or end wall,3. A bridge, or top wall, 5 bridges side walls2 in axially inwardly spaced relation to end wall 3 and in radiallyoutwardly spaced relation to flange la. A pair of axial striPs, or ribs,11 are fashioned on flange la within recess 4 and are spaced inwardly ofside walls 2.

A fastening clip 6 is inserted within each recess 4. Clip 6 comprises aflat central portion 7 and a pair of circumferentially spaced curvedbeads 8 at the axially outer end of portion 7. Beads 8 are fashioned toprotrude through and fit in the space between top wall 5 and end wall 3to axially interlock clip 6 within recess 4. Beads 8 are looped tore-enter recess 4. End legs 10 project from the re-entrant portion ofeach bead 8 and engage ribs 11. With clip 6 interlocked with recess 4,

legs 10 are sprung on beads 8 to resiliently urge clip portion '7against top wall 5 and in turn force beads 8 into thespace between topwall 5 and end wall 3. Thus,

. bend 9 at the inner end of portion 7 which curves radially and axiallyinwardly ontoribs l1 and thence, outwardly into a spring leg 12. Springleg 12, which may include a bend 13, is directed generally radiallyoutwardly when in its free state. As ring 1 is increasingly applied to avehicle wheel 14, spring leg 12 is increasingly deflected by the axialwheel flange; when ring 1 is fully applied, spring leg 12 assumes theposition indicated at 15 to bitingly engage the axial wheel flangethereby securely retaining ring 1 on wheel 14. The'arrangement of bend 9and spring 12 permits ring 1 to be applied to wheel 14 with minimumeffort yet, at the same time provides a sufficient retention force tohold ring 1 securely on wheel 14.

It will be observed that since clip 6 is axially interlocked withinrecess 4, it will not move axially outwardly relative to flange 1a whenring 1 is applied to wheel 14. Thus, springleg 12 will be accuratelypositioned relative to wheel l4 when ring 1 is fully applied to thewheel and proper engagement with the axial wheel flange is alwaysassured. Likewise, when ring I is removed, clip 6 can not be pulled outof its recess and hence, is always removed along with ring 1. 7

While it will be apparent that the invention herein disclosed is wellcalculated to achieve the benefits and advantages as hereinabove setforth, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the spiritthereof.

1 claim:

1. Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axiallyouter face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, saidfastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted tolie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is appliedto the wheel, means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses onsaid flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being definedby end wall means at the axially outer end of each recess and axiallyextending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wallmeans, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axiallyextending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall meanson said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wallmeans in radially spaced relation to said flange means, means definingan opening in said axially extending wall means adjacent said end wallmeans, and a spring clip disposed within each of said recesses, eachclip comprising an interlocking portion disposed in said opening foraxially interlocking the clip in its recess and a spring leg protrudingfrom the open axially inner end of its recess for engaging the annularaxial wheel flange.

2.. The fastening means of claim 1 wherein said opening is in said topwall means.

3. The fastening means of claim 2 including resilient means on Said clipfor resiliently urging said interlocking portion into said opening.

4. The fastening means of claim 2 wherein said interlocking portioncomprises a curved bead.

5. The fastening means of claim 4 wherein said clip includes a centralportion engageable with said top wall includes resilient meansengageable with said flange means and said resilient means urges saidcentral pormeans for resiliently urging said bead into said opening.tion against said top wall means.

6. The fastening means of claim 5 wherein said clip UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. 3, 771, 834 Dated November13', 1973 Inventor(s) d Paul Kretschmer It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 56, "striPs" should be --strips-'--. Column 2, line 57,after "opening" insert --and abutting said end Wall meansline 64, "Said"should be "said- Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 197L;

(SEAL) Attest: v v

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JH. u; MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatent s FORM PO-1050 uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 0.5. 60 E NMENT PRINTINGOFFICE I9 0

1. Fastening means for fastening a decorative wheel ring on the axiallyouter face of a vehicle wheel having an annular axial wheel flange, saidfastening means comprising axial flange means on said ring adapted tolie radially inwardly of the axial wheel flange when the ring is appliedto the wheel, means defining a plurality of clip-receiving recesses onsaid flange means around said ring, each of said recesses being definedby end wall means at the axially outer end of each recess and axiallyextending wall means extending axially inwardly from said end wallmeans, each recess being open at its axially inner end, said axiallyextending wall means comprising circumferentially spaced side wall meanson said flange means and top wall means extending between said side wallmeans in radially spaced relation to said flange means, means definingan opening in said axially extending wall means adjacent said end wallmeans, and a spring clip disposed within each of said recesses, eachclip comprising an interlocking portion disposed in said opening foraxially interlocking the clip in its recess and a spring leg protrudingfrom the open axially inner end of its recess for engaging the annularaxial wheel flange.
 2. The fastening means of claim 1 wherein saidopening is in said top wall means.
 3. The fastening means of claim 2including resilient means on Said clip for resiliently urging saidinterlocking portion into said opening.
 4. The fastening means of claim2 wherein said interlocking portion comprises a curved bead.
 5. Thefastening means of claim 4 wherein said clip includes resilient meansengageable with said flange means for resiliently urging said bead intosaid opening.
 6. The fastening means of claim 5 wherein said clipincludes a central portion engageable with said top wall means and saidresilient means urges said central portion against said top wall means.